Community Development – Volunteering in Argentina and now in Brazil
My fiancé and I had an incredible experience volunteering in Argentina and now in Brazil. Our project in Buenos Aires was in a very special community of which we were welcomed with open arms. The family we worked alongside we now consider our own family!! Here in Rio doing sports development has been extremely rewarding and we are learning so much about this beautiful culture and even learning capoeira with the locals!! Felipe and his family have been SO accommodating & we are having a blast living with him and his beautiful fam! HIGHLY recommend all IKP programs :)!! – Lindsey Willis, USA
About the Community Development Project in Buenos Aires
As a volunteer, you can participate in different campaigns during the year, according to the need of the community at that time.
Volunteers must be willing to participate in various activities that will arise – for example: sorting clothes, food, books, toys, etc, that come as a donation and distribute them. Moreover you can participate in children, youths and families inclusion projects or help to plan events for schools and communities, etc.
Visit our page with all the volunteer projects in Argentina
My trip to South Africa was an old dream…
Isabella Neves with the children
My trip to South Africa was an old dream that was everything I expected and more, this beautiful country had my heart since day 1 and my memories with the kids in Masi make me miss them everyday,just to be there helping and bringing love to them was enough to make my whole day happy, they gave me so much more that I could ever give them and thanks Iko Poran for the support, the amazing volunteer’s house and the incredible friends I was so lucky to meet, thanks for showing me that life is better when you are helping others 🙂 – Isabella Neves
The Childcare and Teaching Project in Cape Town, South Africa
Isabella with a boy
As a child care volunteer you will be teaching and caring for beautiful children at Doreen’s Crèche. The well-established day care centre at Masiphumelele Township, around 45 minutes from central Cape Town.
The crèche receives over 60 children aged 3-6 during the day while their parents work to earn a living. You will take care of these dynamic and energetic children, which requires a lot of work. But your love and dedication will be greatly appreciated.
During your stay at Cape Town, you also will learn about township life, culture, and history.
Visit more childcare voluntary work projects here.
If you feel ready for your volunteer experience, find the full details about the South Africa Volunteer Programs and proceed with your application.
Amazing experience with some of the greatest people.
Nathan working on a building
Amazing experience with some of the greatest people. The local coordinators and the local organization were perfect. We will carry these people and memories with us for the rest of our lives. Everything went smoothly and it was much cheaper than other organizations. I would highly recommend this program! My fiance and I will probably come back because the program and the people changed our lives so much. The local volunteer neighborhood invited us to the pool and to play soccer in their community. Once in a lifetime experience!– Nathan, Washington DC
Community Development Program in Argentina
There are many ways you can help in the community development project, not just working on a building. Here are a few things, that will arise: sorting clothes, food, books, toys, etc, that come as a donation and distribute them. Moreover you can participate in children, youths and families inclusion projects or help to plan events for schools and communities, etc.
Your week will never be boring as there is a lot for you to do. Get ready for a lot of different experiences. We are sure you will love it.
Visit the page of the community development project in Argentina on our homepage!
Teaching in Kathmandu – Amazing Experience!
I spend a month teaching in a school in Kathmandu Nepal.
It is an amazing experience, especially if you want to put your teaching skills on the line.
I have learned not only that I love what I do, but also gained confidence and good experience.
You also get to understand a different culture and meet amazing people! – Antonia Bozzolo, Las Condes
Volunteer teaching in Kathmandu, Nepal
This is a great opportunity for volunteers who want to gain teaching experience while improving learning environments in rural areas of Nepal.
Your presence will open hearts and minds to life outside of a small village where ideas of life beyond their small corner of the world are seldom generated. Teaching the students and inspiring the teachers with new methods will leave your legacy in place.
Best Volunteer Programs 2018
The new year has begun, and we thought about some suggestions for the best volunteer programs. Since we found there are some volunteer projects, which our participants enjoy a lot, we made a list of highlights. Maybe, this can inspire you for your next volunteer trip. Have fun!
Teaching English in Nepal, Peru and Ecuador
Lammert in Nepal
Nepal has been a fascinating destination for our volunteers ever since, and there is nothing like teaching young monks at a monastery close to Kathmandu. Lammert with his own words:
Teaching English to the child/junior monks at the Monastery has been an interesting, inspiring and educational experience for me. I only hope my pupils experienced it the same way. The atmosphere in the monastery was very welcoming, peaceful and enjoyable and so were the people in it. At times, it was challenging to keep the kids in line by using only positive feedback and enthusiasm (because they see and undergo enough violence in their lives) but I think me and other volunteers have found a nice balance to make lessons entertaining, engaging as well as educational. It has been very rewarding to see how much progress they’ve made in the three weeks I got to teach them. – Lammert
Find out more about the teaching English Program in Nepal on our Homepage
Marco Fiorito took a trip to Peru, Iquitos in the Amazon, and found it one of the best volunteer programs:
Teaching has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me, as put me in direct contact with the local people, who really appreciated the time and effort I put into it and who truly believed in the benefits of the program. – Marco Fiorito
Find our page with all the Teaching English Programs
Medical Internships in Brazil and Nepal
Helping local people at a clinic and caring for patients is one of the most rewarding experiences. Jason Simonides went to Brazil, and worked as a medical volunteer at a clinic in Rio. Besides his valuable experience, of course, Rio de Janeiro stands out for it’s charme. The people are very welcoming and soon you will feel at home in the Brazilian culture.
The program itself really allowed us to immerse ourselves in the culture and get a sense of the Brazilian healthcare system when we volunteered. It was a very good learning experience and a great opportunity to shadow doctors and learn some basic medical techniques, such as taking blood pressure. The doctors and nurses were all very nice and willing to work with us despite the language barrier. I was very happy with my experience with Iko Poran in Rio. – Jason Simonides
Magda Camaxide from Portugal traveled to Nepal, for a medical internship at the Kathmandu Pediatric Hospital. Her boy-friend went as well, and it was a unique trip for both of them! At the end of their journey, they visited the Annapurna region with it’s breathtaking mountains.
At the hospital I was able to exchange experiences and knowledge that was beneficial to both sides and was also extremely well integrated in the hospital routines. Thank You Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center for this opportunity!!!
The final days in Nepal I spent trekking in the Annapurna region and was blessed with the most breathtaking mountain landscapes I have ever seen!
All of these things were perfectly orchestrated with the help of Ikoporan and FDIP, and I will always be extremely grateful for that!!! Keep up the excellent work!!!!!
Environmental Volunteering in Brazil and Uganda
Volunteer on Reforestion in Ecuador’s Rainforest
Elisa went to Brazil, and helped protecting the beautiful nature at the Tijuca Rainforest in Rio de Janeiro. At the same time, she worked at a community garden, where local people grow their vegetables.
So far I have had a wonderful experience volunteering in Rio de Janeiro with Iko Poran’s Urban Environmentalism program. I am half way through my two-month stay in Rio and I already know that it will be a very valuable experience for me. The project consists of work in Tijuca National Park and at a large community garden in a favela, where they grow almost every sort of common vegetable in Brazil. The people I work with in the communities are all incredibly kind and welcoming, not to mention they are doing work that makes a big difference for themselves and the environment. – Elisa
In Ecuador you can work with reforestation at the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest. With your volunteer work, you will support a community in remote village, where they grow vegetables, coffee and also plant trees in the forest. It is a unique opportunity to experience the culture of the local people and enjoy the nature.
In Africa , you can participate in our Biodiversity Project in Uganda, helping to preserve the environment of the host communities. Your volunteer work will also include alternative energies in order to create a sustainable future.
You can find all our environmental projects here.
Animal Conservation Projects in South Africa and Costa Rica
Camille Clauss Marietti
In South Africa, we offer many different animal conservation projects. You can work with endangered wildlife in an animal sanctuary near Port Elizabeth, or save the Vervet Monkeys near Tzaneen. The African Big Five are fascinating, you can monitor the elephants, rhinos, buffalos and elephants in the African Bush. Camille from France wrote:
This summer I had an unforgettable experience in South Africa. Thank you Iko Poran for this exceptional travel! Sure, I will do it again! – Camille Claus Marietti
Gijs from Holland helped to protect the Vervet Monkeys, and enjoyed his stay a lot:
I’m having a wonderful time here and there is nothing that I don’t like. – Gijs van Suijlichem
Last, but not least, you can go for a trip to the Caribbean beaches of Costa Rica, and protect the baby sea turtles. The program starts from March this year.
I had a fantastic time in Costa Rica with the turtles and I met many people and created memories I will never forget. I definitely recommend Iko Poran and the Sea Turtle experience in Costa Rica and I cannot wait until I volunteer with them again. Pura Vida! – Paige, 19 years old
You can find an overview of our Animal Conservation Programs here.
Childcare in Kenya and South Africa
One of the favorite projects of our volounteers is teaching children at Doreen’s Crèche close to Cape Town:
Mariane
On November of 2017 I had one of the best experiences of my life doing volunteer work with children in Masiphumelele Township, South Africa. The purpose was to help, but it was much beyond that. I had a life lesson, a very great personal growth. Everyday in the morning, when we arrived at crèche (me and the other volunteers), the children were waiting for us with a smile on their faces. Receiving those smiles, hugs, and kisses every morning was the best way to start the day. Playing, teaching a few words in English, helping in the distribution of snacks, it was a better way to brighten their lives because they need more love, affection and care. They need us!
I am very thankful to Iko Poran for the whole experience. They were always there from airport pick-up to accommodation, showing me the way and placing me at the project. It was unique experience without a doubt! My thanks to everybody who is part of this organization that has been helping all who need it. – Mariane
You can find all our childcare volunteer programs here.
Volunteering in a Clinic in Rio de Janeiro
From start to end, from coming off the airplane to leaving on the last day, we had the support of Felipe and his close friend, Regina. On the days that we volunteered at the clinic, one of them would greet us early in the morning at our hostel to pick us up and help us get there. On the days that we did not volunteer, they would still drop everything for us if we needed them. The program itself really allowed us to immerse ourselves in the culture and get a sense of the Brazilian healthcare system when we volunteered. It was a very good learning experience and a great opportunity to shadow doctors and learn some basic medical techniques, such as taking blood pressure. The doctors and nurses were all very nice and willing to work with us despite the language barrier. I was very happy with my experience with Iko Poran in Rio. – Jason Simonides
Learn more about volunteering in Brazil
Find here more volunteer programs in Rio de Janeiro. You can find more medical volunteer programs on our page about healthcare.